Maryland Democrats fueled the national blue wave during the recent midterm elections, with several key lawmakers campaigning in the weeks leading up to the vote to stump for fellow Democrats across the country.
As Republican President Donald Trump’s approval rating plummeted, Democrats saw a clear opportunity to pitch their platform and strengthen their Congressional majority. Lawmakers from Maryland, a state already known for its Democratic leanings, answered the call, traveling far beyond their own borders to help secure wins in traditionally Republican areas.
A Nationwide Campaign Effort
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., was one of the most active Maryland Democrats on the campaign trail, traveling to more than two dozen states this fall to rally support for his party’s candidates. U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks also joined the effort, organizing and campaigning for out-of-state candidates in key races.
“The first goal is undoubtedly the instrumental political goal of assembling Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate,” Raskin said. “I was able to contribute politically or financially to more than 175 of my existing and future colleagues.”
These out-of-state efforts were not just about boosting individual campaigns. They also served to build and strengthen relationships within the party. Raskin explained that campaigning for fellow Democrats helped him make “a lot of friends among the new people.”
“Congress is an institution which is based on relationships, and to the extent that I’m able to create more and thicker relationships with my colleagues, the more effective I’m able to be in terms of advancing the interests of my constituents,” he said. The trips also deepened his understanding of the issues facing people across the nation. “In general, I have found it a great process for me to get to know about the issues that are not just in the hearts and minds of people in Montgomery County,” Raskin mentioned, referring to his district. “You get to know what’s on the minds of people from all over the country.”
Expert Analysis of Maryland’s Role
John Ronquillo, inaugural director of the Institute for Public Leadership and associate professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, commended the work of Maryland’s elected officials. He characterized their nationwide campaign efforts as “highly useful and very beneficial to Democrats across the country.”
“The best politicians, the best strategists, see what’s at stake, and so they’re willing to see what they’re able to expend outside of their own jurisdictions, and that’s what happened,” Ronquillo added. He also noted that Maryland is often overlooked as a breeding ground for national leaders. “I think a lot of times Maryland is not often lifted up as much as it should be in terms of a state that develops these national leaders,” he said.
A State-Level Ripple Effect
The impact of this national support was also felt within Maryland. While the state may not have been swept by the massive political wave that hit other parts of the country, the ripples were clear. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore won his reelection bid with ease, and a constitutional redistricting amendment pushed by him and other top Democrats passed by a 60-40 margin.
In the Maryland House of Delegates, Democrats gained at least two seats, expanding their supermajority. The seven most populous jurisdictions in the state will remain under Democratic leadership, and five of those—Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Howard County—will have African American executives in charge. Additionally, a Democrat won the county executive race in Wicomico County on the Eastern Shore.
Nationally, the election results were historic. Democrats gained 258 state legislative seats nationwide, created six new governing trifectas, and claimed 11 legislative chambers from the GOP, according to Chaz Nuttycombe, executive director of State Navigate. “This was the most significant night for state legislative power since the seismic Republican wave in 2010,” said Mandara Meyers, executive director of the States Project.
The victories give Democrats more power in the states than at any other point in the 21st century, fundamentally reshaping the legislative playing field. As the party now controls a majority of governorships, the attention is turning to how this newfound power will be used in the coming years.
With major legislative backlogs in states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and a newly empowered Democratic base nationwide, the focus for Maryland Democrats and their colleagues across the country is shifting to governance and the implementation of their policy agendas.
